Today, Belize City police had a violent encounter with a man who was resisting arrest. But, instead of lethal force, the cops went Old Testament, and resorted to sticks and stones. Reports tell us that it happened at around 4:30 this evening on Ordonez Street in the Lake Independence area. When police showed up to make an arrest the suspect had a machete. Seems the arresting officer didn't want to use lethal force, and when they tried to approach the room - he started stoning them - and - apparently having no non - lethal weapons like rubber bullets - they responded in kind. They did try to use pepper spray - but one of the officers can be heard to say that the spray had expired.
What unfolded thereafter was both comical and tragic, to see the cops resorting to throwing and dodging stones - not exactly 21st century policing.
But, they did show restraint - unlike the scene in Santa Familia 10 days ago. And via voice message the Commissioner of Police Chester Williams today acknowledged that:
Voice of: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"What the video shows is the fact that the officers were exercising great restraint, concerning the fact that it appears as if the person from inside the house was armed with sticks and other stuff that he was throwing at the police and they tried to respond to restrain him by the use of stick as well and it shows throughout that he continue to be defiant and the police used as minimal force as was necessary in order to detain the person."
Police did detain the suspect at the end of the ordeal. We note that the banter from the police suggests that the suspect may have been mentally ill.
